The Daughter of Anderson Crow eBook

That same day Anderson deposited two hundred and fifty
dollars to his credit in the First National Bank,
saying to his wife as he walked away from the teller’s
window, “I guess Rosalie cain’t starve
till the bank busts, an’ maybe not then.”

Of course Tinkletown knew that a sum of money had
been paid to Anderson, but no one knew that it had
been handed to him in person by an interested party.
Had Anderson and his wife even whispered that such
a visit had occurred, the town would have gone into
a convulsion of wrath; the marshal’s pedestal
would have been jerked out from under him without
compunction or mercy. Eva cautioned him to be
more than silent on the subject for the child’s
sake as well as for their own, and Anderson saw wisdom
in her counselling. He even lagged in his avowed
intention to unravel the mystery or die in the attempt.
A sharp reminder in the shape of an item in the Banner
restored his energies, and he again took up the case
with a vigour that startled even himself. Anything
in the shape of vigour startled his wife.

Harry Squires, the reporter, who poked more or less
fun at Anderson from time to time because he had the
“power of the press behind him,” some
weeks later wrote the following item about the “baby
mystery,” as he called it, in large type:

“There is no news in regard to
the child found upon the doorstep of our esteemed
fellow-citizen Anderson Crow, last February. The
item concerning its discovery first appeared
in the columns of the Banner, as will
be remembered by our many readers. Detective
Crow promised developments some time ago, but
they have not showed up. It is rumoured
that he has a new clew, but it cannot be substantiated.
The general impression is that he does not know whether
it is a boy or girl. We advise Mr. Crow to go
slow. He should not forget the time when
he arrested Mr. John Barnes, two years ago, for
the murder of Mr. Grover, and afterward found that
the young gent was merely eloping with Judge Brewster’s
daughter, which was no crime. We saw the
girl. Those of our readers who were alive
at the time doubtless recall the excitement of that
man-hunt two years ago. Mr. Barnes, as innocent
as a child unborn, came to our little city engaged
in the innocent pastime of getting married. At
the same time it was reported that a murder had been
committed in this county. Mr. Crow had his
suspicions aroused and pursued Mr. Barnes down
the river and arrested him. It was a fine piece
of detective work. But, unfortunately for
Mr. Crow, the real murderer had been caught in
the meantime. Mr. Barnes was guilty only of stealing
judge Brewster’s daughter and getting married
to her. The last heard of them they were
happy in New York. They even forgave Mr.
Crow, it is reported. It is to be hoped that our
clever detective will soon jump down upon the
heartless parents of this innocent child, but
it is also to be hoped that he think at least four
times before he leaps.”

To say that the foregoing editorial disturbed the
evenness of Mr. Crow’s temper would be saying
nothing at all. In the privacy of his barn lot
Anderson did a war dance that shamed Tecumseh.
He threatened to annihilate Harry Squires “from
head to foot,” for publishing the base slander.